Apparatus and method for eliminating debris from a contained body of liquid

ABSTRACT

An effective skimming and vacuuming apparatus and/or skimming and vacuuming system that is cost effective, simple and light weight such that the consumer would find it reliable, easy to install, easy to remove, lightweight, affordable, adaptable, and assists in the removal of debris from the surface of the liquid regardless of the liquid level and assists in the removal of debris below the surface of the liquid.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application pends form provisional application 60/427285.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

This invention has been created without the sponsorship or funding of any federally sponsored research or development program.

REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to liquid maintenance devices, and more specifically to an apparatus and method for eliminating debris from a contained body of liquid, such as a swimming pool.

2. Prior Art

Skimming and vacuuming devices have been developed to eliminate debris from contained bodies of liquid. Skimming devices are typically used for contained bodies of liquid, although, they may be used for open bodies of liquid, such as the ocean, such as when an environmental cleanup is required. Said contained bodies of liquid are generally maintained by a filtering system which circulates water through skimming and vacuuming devices that separate debris from the liquid. Said skimming devices are generally connected to said filtering system and generally remove debris from the surface of the liquid. Said vacuuming devices are also generally connected to the filtering system and generally remove debris from the bottom of the liquid container. For said skimming device to be effective, they must generally remain near the surface of the water and therefore must move up or down as the water level fluctuates. For said vacuuming devices to be effective they must create enough suction to pull debris from the bottom of the liquid container. Skimming and vacuuming devices are typically used in swimming pools, as well as other contained bodies of liquid.

Although adjustable skimming devices have been developed to accommodate said fluctuations in water level, they are, however, cumbersome, complex and expensive. Furthermore, although various types of vacuums have been developed to remove debris from the bottom of the liquid container, they are also cumbersome, tend to be complex and may be expensive. And still further, skimming and vacuuming devices have not been combined into one simple unit.

Therefore, said skimming and vacuuming devices have some drawbacks.

Firstly, the skimming and vacuuming devices are cumbersome, i.e., large, bulky and heavy, making the installation and removal of the skimming or vacuuming device a chore that may require more than one person.

Secondly, the skimming and vacuuming devices are complex, i.e., many moving parts with connections to various intakes and outtakes, making the installation and removal of the skimming device time consuming for the maintainer. Said complexity may necessitate the assistance of an expert to aid in the installation and removal.

Thirdly, the skimming and vacuuming devices may be expensive due to their complexity. Said expense will limit the number of consumers who will purchase said skimming and vacuuming devices.

Fourthly, the skimming and vacuuming devices may require modifications to the existing filtering system, thus increasing the complexity and cost of said skimming and vacuuming devices.

Fifthly, the skimming devices do not assist in the removal of debris from the liquid below the surface, thus requiring the user to rely on the additional task of vacuuming to remove debris below the surface to the liquid.

Sixthly, said skimming and vacuuming devices are not specifically designed for low liquid levels, such as when the liquid level is below the skimming intake six inches or more, as is usually the case when the a body of liquid, typically a swimming pool, has been closed for a period of time or there has been a drought or water ban.

There is therefore a need in the art for an effective skimming and vacuuming apparatus and/or skimming and vacuuming system that is cost effective, simple and light weight such that the consumer would find it reliable, easy to install, easy to remove, lightweight, affordable, adaptable, and assists in the removal of debris from the surface of the liquid regardless of the liquid level and assists in the removal of debris below the surface of the liquid.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a skimming and vacuuming apparatus and/or skimming and vacuuming system which functions regardless of the liquid level and eliminates the need for the user to:

-   -   1) add liquid to the contained body of liquid when the liquid         level is too low for the filtering system, and thus the         vacuuming system, to function, therefore permitting swimming         pool owners to wait for rain to fill the swimming pool, saving         the pool owner time, effort and money, and saving environmental         resources, especially when there is a drought or water ban; or     -   2) pump water from the contained body of liquid when the liquid         level is too high for the skimmer to be effective.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a skimming apparatus and/or skimming system that is simple in design.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a skimming apparatus and/or skimming system that is lightweight and easy to use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a skimming apparatus and/or skimming system that is affordable.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a skimming apparatus and/or skimming system that connects to most filtering systems without modification.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a skimming apparatus and/or skimming device that will assist in the removal of debris below the surface.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A novel approach to liquid maintenance has now been discovered, thus providing the maintainer with improved modes of maintaining contained bodies of liquid. The present invention achieves a simpler, effective, affordable, adaptable and less cumbersome way of maintaining a body of liquid regardless of the water level. By practicing the disclosed invention, the skilled practitioner will now enjoy easy installation, easy removal, a reduced need for water level monitoring and a less cumbersome way of maintaining a body of liquid. The advantages of using the present invention include: affordability, adaptability, ease of set up, ease of installation, ease of removal, the ability to remove debris from the surface of the water and below the surface at the same time, and the ability to run the skimmer/vacuum when the water level is low, especially for swimming pools which permits the pool owner to wait until it rains to fill the swimming pool, thus saving the swimming pool owner time effort and expense as well as conserving environmental resources, especially in the event of a drought or water ban. The present invention will hereinafter be referred to as the Low Water Skimmer Vac.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art, along with advantages and features of the invention disclosed herein, will be made more apparent from the description, drawings and claims that follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the invention itself, will be more fully understood from the following description of preferred embodiments, when read together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the cleaning means used in conjunction with the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the preferred embodiment of skimmer attachment 10.

NUMBERING OF THE DRAWINGS

2. Skimmer

4. Connecting Means 1

6. Sealing Means

8. Low Water Skimmer Vac

10. Skimmer Attachment 1

12. Connecting Means 2

14. Flexible Hose

16. Skimmer Attachment 2

18. Skimming Basket

20. Open End

22. Closed End

23. Sidewalls

24. Openings

26. Mounting Means

28. Liquid Squeegee/Broom

30. Handle

32. Debris Moving Means

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the broadest aspects, the present invention provides the skilled artisan with the analytical tools and technical know-how sufficient to make and use the disclosed invention. The present invention provides contained liquid maintenance persons with a liquid maintenance system that is affordable, adaptable, lightweight, easy to set-up, use and store and removes debris at the liquid's surface and below. Said system utilizes a simple design, thus making it easy to use by most contained liquid maintainers.

Referring first to FIG. 1 and 3, wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, the present invention, in its most basic form, is generally indicated by the reference numeral 8, and comprises a skimmer attachment, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, a flexible hose, generally indicated by reference numeral 14, and a skimmer, generally indicated by reference numeral 2. The Low Water Skimmer Vac 8 is shown in functional form and may be disassembled for easy storage and transportability.

In further detail, said skimmer attachment 10 is of the type commonly used with most swimming pools and generally comprises a connecting means 4 and a sealing means 6. Said skimmer attachment 10 is in the shape of an expanded cone with a vertical finish at the end of greatest diameter. Said connecting means 4 is located at the top of said skimmer attachment 10 and the sealing means 6 is on the bottom of said skimmer attachment 10. Said connecting means 4 is in the shape of a tube and facilitates connection between the skimmer attachment 10 and the flexible hose 14. In the preferred embodiment, said connecting means is elongated with a 90° bend to eliminate upward bending of flexible hose 14. Said sealing means 6 is attached along the base perimeter of the skimmer attachment 10 to facilitate a seal between said skimmer attachment 10 and the pool filter. Said skimmer attachment 10 is generally made of plastic. Other equivalent substances would also be suitable. Identification of equivalents is well within the skill of the ordinary practitioner and would require no more than routine experimentation. Said skimmer attachment 10 is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and may vary in shape and size to accommodate various filtering systems. In some cases the skimmer attachment 10 may be eliminated and replaced with an adaptor to accommodate various filtering systems. Said adaptors are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Said flexible hose 14, is comprised of a length of tubing with connecting means 12 sealably connected to both ends. Said flexible hose 14 may comprise several lengths of hose or be one complete unit. Said flexible hose 14 is of the length to facilitate the removal of debris from a body of liquid, and is generally just below the liquid line. Said flexible hose 14 connecting means 12′ connects to said skimmer 2 and said flexible hose 14 connecting means 12″ connects to said skimmer attachment 10. Said flexible hose 14 facilitates the movement of liquid between said skimmer 2 and said skimmer attachment 10. Said flexible hose 14 is generally made of rubber or plastic. Other equivalent substances would also be suitable. Identification of equivalents is well within the skill of the ordinary practitioner and would require no more than routine experimentation. Said flexible hose 14 is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Said skimmer 2 is comprised of a skimmer attachment 16, a skimming basket 18 and a mounting means 26. Said skimmer attachment 16 is of the type commonly used with most swimming pools and generally comprises a connecting means 4′ and a sealing means 6′. Said skimmer attachment 10 is in the shape of an expanded cone with a vertical finish at the end of greatest diameter. Said connecting means 4′ is located at the top of said skimmer attachment 16 and the sealing means 6′ is on the bottom of said skimmer attachment 16. Said connecting means 4′ is in the shape of a tube and facilitates connection between the skimmer attachment 16 connecting means 12′ and the flexible hose 14. Said sealing means 6′ is attached along the base perimeter of the skimmer attachment 16 and is generally intended to facilitate a seal between said skimmer attachment 16 and the pool filter. In the present case, the sealing means of said skimmer attachment 16 creates a seal between said skimmer attachment 16 and said skimming basket 18. Said skimmer attachment 16 is generally one piece and is generally made of plastic. Other equivalent configurations and substances would also be suitable. Identification of equivalents is well within the skill of the ordinary practitioner and would require no more than routine experimentation. Said skimmer attachment 16 is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and may vary in shape and size to accommodate various skimming baskets 18.

Said skimming basket 18 is of the type commonly used with most swimming pools. Said skimming basket 18 is generally cylindrical in shape and is comprised of an open end 20, a closed end 22 and a side walls 23. Other shapes would also be suitable. Identification of equivalents is well within the skill of the ordinary practitioner and would require no more than routine experimentation. Said open end 20 is located at the top of skimming basket 18. Said closed end is located at the bottom of skimming basket 22. Said sidewalls 23 are the body of skimming basket 18. Said sidewalls 23 are connected to said closed end 22 along the perimeter of said closed end 22 and sealed where the ends of said sidewalls 23 meet. Said sidewalls 23 and said closed end 22 are generally manufactured as one unit in a seamless manner. Said skimming basket 18 is generally made of plastic. Other equivalent substances would also be suitable. Identification of equivalents is well within the skill of the ordinary practitioner and would require no more than routine experimentation. Said skimming basket 18 is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Said skimming basket 18 is attached to said skimmer attachment 16 by mounting means 26. Said mounting means 26 may be as simple as electrical tie wraps connecting said skimmer attachment 16 to said sidewalls 23 of skimming basket 18. In the preferred embodiment the mounting means 26 utilizes a hinge and latch means. Said hinge means is attached to one side of said sidewalls 23 of open end 20 of the skimming basket 18 and the same side of said skimming attachment 16. Said latch means is connected 180° away from the hinge means on said sidewalls 23 of open end 20 of the skimming basket 18 and skimming attachment 16. Said skimming hinge and latch means are generally made of plastic. Other equivalent substances would also be suitable. Identification of equivalents is well within the skill of the ordinary practitioner and would require no more than routine experimentation. Said hinge and latch means are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Said hinge and latch means facilitates the opening and closing of said skimmer 2. Such opening and closing facilitates the removal of debris within said skimmer 2 and permits placement of chlorine tablets within said skimmer to facilitate liquid maintenance.

Said skimmer 2 may also include a flotation component. Said flotation component may be in the shape of a ring and attached to said skimming basket 18, or said flotation component may be incorporated into said skimmer 2 material. Other equivalent means would also be suitable.

Identification of equivalents is well within the skill of the ordinary practitioner and would require no more than routine experimentation.

The Low Water Skimmer Vac 8 may also be constructed of materials known by one of ordinary skill in the art that are lightweight, flexible, rustproof and suitable for outdoor use. In the preferred embodiment, said Low Water Skimmer Vac 8 is molded and comprised of thee elements, the skimmer attachment 10, the flexible hose 14 and the skimmer 2, which allow the Low Water Skimmer Vac to be easily collapsed at the intersection of said connecting means 4 of said skimmer attachment 12 and said connecting means 12″ of said flexible hose 14, and the intersection of said connecting means 12′ of said flexible hose 14 and said connecting means 4′ of said skimmer attachment 16 of said skimmer 2. Said collapsibility allows for quick and easy set-up and breakdown, i.e., less than one minute.

In practice the system works as follows: 1) The maintenance person sets up the Low Water Skimmer Vac by connecting said connecting means 4 of said skimmer attachment 10 to said connecting means 12″ of said flexible hose 14 and connecting said connecting means 12′ of said flexible hose 14 to said connecting means 4′ of said skimmer attachment 16 of said skimmer 2. Said flexible hose 14 length is dependant on the distance between the filtering system and the surface of the liquid level in conjunction with the depth the maintenance person desires to skim/vac. 2) The maintenance person then fills said Low Water Skimmer Vac with liquid and connects said bottom of said skimmer attachment 10 to the filtering system. 3) If a flotation device or chlorine is desired, the maintenance person may add either at any step in the process. The Low Water Skimmer Vac functions as follows: 1) The liquid is pulled through the Low Water Skimmer Vac via suction from the filtering system, is filtered and returned to said source. Larger debris are kept out of the Low Water Skimmer Vac by the skimming basket 18. 2) The maintenance person may opt to use a broom or squeegee as shown in FIG. 2 [not part of the claimed apparatus] to push the debris toward the Low Water Skimmer Vac to be pulled through the filtering system. The Low Water Skimmer Vac may be left connected to the filtering system unattended once the vacuuming is complete or removed and broken down for storage.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The foregoing embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects illustrative rather than limiting of the invention described herein. Scope of the invention is thus indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced herein. 

1. An apparatus used in connection with a liquid filtration system comprising: (a) An attachment means comprising a first end and a second end; (b) A length of tubing comprising a first end and a second end; and (c) A basket, whereby said first end of said attachment means connects to said liquid filtration system and said second end of said attachment means connects to said first end of said length of tubing, and said second end of said length of tubing is connected to said basket.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said basket defines a plurality of holes;
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said basket comprises: (a) A top; (b) A bottom; (c) A hinging means; and (d) A locking means, wherein said basket may be selectively opened or closed.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said length of tubing comprises connecting means attached to said first end of said length of tubing and said second end of said length of tubing.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said attachment means is in the shape of an expanded cone with a vertical finish at the end of greatest diameter.
 6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said basket comprises: (e) A top; (f) A bottom; (g) A hinging means; and (h) A locking means, wherein said basket may be selectively opened or closed.
 7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said length of tubing comprises connecting means attached to said first end of said length of tubing and said second end of said length of tubing.
 8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said attachment means is in the shape of an expanded cone with a vertical finish at the end of greatest diameter.
 9. An apparatus used in connection with a liquid filtration system comprising: (a) An attachment means comprising: (i) An expanded cone; (ii) A top; (iii) A bottom; (iv) A sealing means; and (v) Expanded cone connecting means, wherein said top of said expanded cone houses said expanded cone connecting means, and wherein said sealing means is connected to said bottom of said expanded cone, (b) A length of tubing comprising: (i) A first end; (ii) A second end; (iii) Tubing connecting means for said first end; and (iv) Tubing connecting means for said second end, Wherein said tubing connecting means for said first end is connected to said first end and said tubing connecting means for said second end is connected to said second end, (c) A basket comprising: (i) A basket connecting means; (ii) A closed end; (iii) Side walls; and (iv) A Plurality of openings, wherein said basket connecting means defines the top of said basket, and wherein said closed end and side walls define the bottom and sides of said basket, which is generally one unit, and wherein said closed end and sidewalls define a plurality of openings, wherein said expanded cone sealing means is connected to said liquid filtration system and said expanded cone connecting means is connected to said tubing connecting means for the first end and said tubing connecting means for the second end is connected to said basket connecting means.
 10. A method of filtering liquid utilizing a low water skimmer vacuum, comprising the steps of: (a) connecting the first end of the tubing to the filtration system attachment means; (b) connecting the second end of said tubing to the basket, wherein said basket defines a plurality of holes; (c) starting the filtration system, wherein steps (a) through (c) may be performed in any order; (d) connecting said filtration system attachment means to the filtration system; (e) allowing said filtration system to filter the liquid by pulling the liquid through said holes in the basket, through said tubing and said filtration system attachment means and into said filtration system and expelling the filtered liquid into the same or different location; (f) Selectively using a tool to propel the debris from the bottom of the liquid towards said basket; (g) disconnecting said tubing, said basket and said filtration system attachment means and storing said tubing, said basket and said filtration system attachment means, wherein the filtration system may or may not have to be turned off or adjusted for said disconnecting. 